Module devices::virtio::pvclock

Virtio version of a linux pvclock clocksource.

Driver source is here: https://android.googlesource.com/kernel/common/+/ebaa2c516811825b141de844cee7a38653058ef5/drivers/virtio/virtio_pvclock.c

Background

Userland applications often rely on CLOCK_MONOTONIC to be relatively continuous. Large jumps can signal problems (e.g., triggering Android watchdogs). This assumption breaks down in virtualized environments, where a VM’s suspension isn’t inherently linked to the guest kernel’s concept of “suspend”. Since fixing all userland code is impractical, virtio-pvclock allows the VMM and guest kernel to collaborate on emulating the expected clock behavior around suspend/resume.

How it works

Core functions of virtio-pvclock device:

1. Adjusts hardware clocksource offsets to make the guest clocks appear suspended when the VM is suspended.

• This is achieved through the pvclock mechanism implemented in x86 KVM used by kvm-clock.

2. Provides the guest kernel with the duration of VM suspension, allowing the guest to adjust its clocks accordingly.

• Since the offset between the CLOCK_MONOTONIC and CLOCK_BOOTTIME is maintained by the guest kernel, applying the adjustment is the guest driver’s responsibility.

Expected guest clock behaviors under virtio-pvclock is enabled

• Monotonicity of CLOCK_MONOTONIC and CLOCK_BOOTTIME is maintained.
• CLOCK_MONOTONIC will not include the time passed during crosvm is suspended from its run mode perspective.
• CLOCK_BOOTTIME will be adjusted to include the time passed during crosvm is suspended.

Why it is needed

Because the existing solution does not cover some expectations we need.

kvm-clock is letting the host to manage the offsets of CLOCK_MONOTONIC. However, it doesn’t address the difference between CLOCK_BOOTTIME and CLOCK_MONOTONIC related to host’s suspend/resume, as it is designed to maintain the CLOCK_REALTIME in sync mainly.

Structs

• MainWorkerReturn 🔒
• PvClock
  A struct that represents virtio-pvclock device.
• PvClockState 🔒
  Serializable part of the PvClock struct which will be used by the virtio_snapshot / restore.
• PvClockWorker 🔒
  Worker struct for the virtio-pvclock device.
• PvClockWorkerSnapshot 🔒
  The unique data retained by PvClockWorker which can be used to re-create an identical worker.
• PvclockInstant 🔒
  Represents a moment in time including the TSC counter value at that time.
• PvclockSharedData 🔒
• StubWorkerReturn 🔒
• virtio_pvclock_config 🔒
• virtio_pvclock_set_pvclock_page_req 🔒

Enums

• PvClockWorkerState 🔒
  An enum to keep dynamic state of pvclock workers in a type safe manner.

Constants

• PVCLOCK_GUEST_STOPPED 🔒
• PVCLOCK_TSC_STABLE_BIT 🔒
• QUEUE_SIZE 🔒
• QUEUE_SIZES 🔒
• VIRTIO_PVCLOCK_CLOCKSOURCE_RATING 🔒
• VIRTIO_PVCLOCK_F_CLOCKSOURCE_RATING 🔒
• VIRTIO_PVCLOCK_F_INJECT_SLEEP 🔒
• VIRTIO_PVCLOCK_F_TSC_STABLE 🔒
• VIRTIO_PVCLOCK_S_IOERR 🔒
• VIRTIO_PVCLOCK_S_OK 🔒

Functions

• pvclock_response_error_from_anyhow 🔒
• run_main_worker 🔒
  A worker to process PvClockCommand requests
• run_stub_worker 🔒
  A stub worker to respond any requests when the device is inactive.